Getting Rid Of The Box Netflix Software To Be Embedded Directly Into LG TVs
This story was written by Rafat Ali.
In the march towards getting "rid of the box" as the going-forward philosophy in the evolving digital home, Netflix has extended its partnership with LG Electronics (SEO: 066570) and embedding its online video service directly into the new HDTVs from the Korean electronics company. LG's new LCD and plasma "Broadband HDTVs" will allow current Netflix members to stream the videos from its service; these TVs have to be connected to a broadband connection, of course.
The TVs will be available this spring, and join LG BD300 Network Blu-ray disc p[layer which can also stream movies instantly from Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX). The two companies announced their first partnership last CES. Netflix's online library of videos is now at around 12,000, still puny compared to over 100K DVDs that the service has. The slightly cumbersome part: Netflix members will have to use the Netflix website queue the movies, which they can then play through their LG TVs. No direct access to the Netflix service on LG.
Even though this may not move the needle on Netflix subscribers, or even LG's retail numbers, it does mean that Netflix is trying harder than any other player in the digital home market, including *Apple*, *Microsoft*, *Amazon* and others.
By Rafat Ali